Breaking news: CVS just announced that they’ve removed cigarettes and other tobacco products from their 7,700 stores today. Last February, the chain announced that it would do so on October 1st, so they're getting it done about three weeks early.
"We're the first national pharmacy chain to step up and take this action," CEO Larry Merlo said on their website. "Tobacco products have no place in a setting where health care is delivered."
Amen! And that’s not the only way that they’re making moves to truly emphasize wellness. They also changed their corporate name from CVS Caremark to CVS Health, a switch meant "to reflect its broader health care commitment," according to the press release.
And finally, they understand that not selling cigarettes and tobacco products is just the beginning of helping people stop smoking entirely—and so they're also offering a whole new "smoking cessation program" at their pharmacies. In a nutshell, that means that they provide customers with reading material on quitting smoking, and they also offer face-to-face counseling with their pharmacists and nurse practitioners. In addition, they also provide tons more info on their website, including a toll-free number to connect people who want to quit with resources in their areas. Plus, they're planning to sell more nicotine replacement products (like patches, gum, and sprays) in their stores, too.
We say: Bravo, CVS! It's about time that big companies started stepping up to take down nicotine. For more info about how terrible cigarettes truly are, check out what nicotine does to your body and how to quick smoking—for good!
More from Women's Health:
4 Major Problems with Social Smoking
8 Myths About Quitting Smoking
The Truth About That Scary Video Showing What Smoking Does to Your Lungs
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